A look at four Days from four vacations spread over four decades. Created for Tobias Carrick Appreciation Week, Day 1: Travel & Leisure.
Book: Open Heart Rating: Teen
St. Barts, 2008 | Tobias Carrick, Ethan Ramsey - 780 words
Stowe, Vermont, 2022 | Tobias x Casey Carrick - 665 words
Disney Road Trip, 2032 | Tobias x Casey Carrick and the Carrick Girls - 852 words
Stowe, Vermont, 2057 | Tobias x Casey Carrick - 562 words
A/N: While this was created with the appreciation week in mind, this is absolutely part of my Tobias x Casey headcanon. I loved seeing how a perfect day and a perfect vacation changed over the course of his life. Tagging @choicesjunechallenge2024 - because this definitely shows thresholds of changes in life. @tobias-carrick-appreciation-week Day 1: Travel & Leasure I hope you enjoy this!
Tobias x Casey Masterlist Open Heart Masterlist Complete Masterlist
March 2008 – St. Bart’s, The Caribbean
This had to be the perfect day. After enduring a brutal mid-Atlantic winter, the warmth of the tropical sun beating against his golden tan body felt like a gift from the gods. Dressed in no more than a pair of black swimming trunks and dark sunglasses, Tobias carried himself across the resort as if he were one of those gods. Not missing a single stare, giggle, or whisper as he strutted toward the pool... fitting those trips to the gym in with a med school workload had clearly paid off.
Ethan brought him back to earthy when he pointed to two lounge chairs under a pink and orange striped umbrella.
“What about those?”
Tobias shook his head. “Too close to the pool... splash zone if any rugrats show up.”
Ethan looked around, noting there wasn’t a child in sight.
“But there could be,” Tobias warned. He pointed to another set of chairs positioned on a raised deck nearby. “Those,” he said. “We’ll catch the rays, stay out of the family zone, and it’s the perfect vantage point to check out our prey.”
“Prey?” Ethan asked with disdain, but his friend only smirked.
“Come on, loosen up, pal. I brought you to St. Barts in hopes of improving your sense of humor... not diminishing it!”
As Ethan set up, Tobias returned from the bar with two pineapple-garnished frozen beverages in hand. After handing Ethan the blue one, he sat in his lounge chair and took a long sip of his bright yellow concoction. Ethan’s nose crinkled when the sweetness hit his tongue.
“Do you even know what’s in this thing?”
Tobias shrugged. “No idea, but that cute little redhead behind the bar recommended them, and far be it for me to question her professional expertise.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Ethan chuckled as he opened a book to Tobias’s horror.
“What! What! WHAT! Is that in your hands?”
Ethan looked at the cover to make sure he hadn’t brought something salacious by mistake.
“It’s Principles of Medical Science,” he replied. “You’re in that class; we have an exam when....”
Tobias removed the book from his hands, snapping it shut.
“HEY!”
“Hey, nothing! Ramsey, we work our asses off at school. We barely sleep and do what needs to be done, but this week... this week is about fun. Rest and relaxation, baby! There will be none of this.”
“I just thought that....”
“No!” Tobias insisted, and when he threatened to throw the book in the pool, Ethan reluctantly relented. Crossing his arms over his chest with a scowl.
“Get that look off of your face!” Tobias chided. “How are we supposed to pick up with you looking like that! You’ll scare any decent options away!”
“Is that all you think about?”
“Hell, yeah!” Tobias grinned. “We’re on the prowl...otherwise I’m stuck with you for ... companionship... this week... is that what you want?”
“I’d rather have the clap,” Ethan snickered.
“Well, I can’t provide you with that, buddy, but I suggest choosing wisely, or maybe someone else can.”
Tobias was about to close his eyes for a quick nap when something caught his eye. Sitting at attention, he hit Ethan's chest.
“OWW!”
“Shhhh!” Tobias ordered. “Look, over there!”
He pointed to a statuesque woman wearing a barely there pink hibiscus print bikini and a pair of high-heeled sandals that highlighted every contour of her curvaceous legs. She let down the hair piled atop her head, and her long, golden-brown curls spilled over her shoulders, stopping just above the place Tobias now longed to be.
“I think I’m in love,” he whispered.
“More like lust,” Ethan smirked.
“Can you blame me?”
The woman caught Tobias shamelessly staring her way when she adjusted her sunglasses. After looking to both sides to ensure she was the object of his attention, she lowered those glasses, raising her drink with an enticing smile.
“Gotta go,” Tobias grinned. “Mama’s calling!”
“Seriously?” Ethan groaned. “Can you maybe put off objectifying the woman until after you say hello?”
Tobias turned to his friend with mock irritation. “Yeah, because look at how she’s looking at me! Clearly, she’s thinking about my gentle demeanor and intellectual prowess right about now. So, you coming with me?”
“Why would I?” Ethan replied. “You’ve already staked your claim, and it’s not like she has a friend.”
As if the universe had heard his request, a gorgeous blonde in a white bandeau top and blue sarong took a seat at the original beauty’s side, and Tobias cleared his throat.
“You were saying there, big guy?”
But Ethan was already on his feet. “I was saying we better get over there, fast; I have no desire to have you as my companion this week!”
November 2022 – Stowe, Vermont
Casey was in a fit of giggles as she attempted to open the door to their luxury suite. The three-hour trip wouldn’t have been so bad if the last hour hadn’t consisted of nothing but bucolic scenery. As stunning as it was, it didn’t provide the one thing she needed most... a bathroom. She just got the door open when her new husband called out in a panic from down the hall.
“WAIT!” He hollered, running to her side with that brilliant grin that made her weak no matter how many times she saw it. “I believe I’m supposed to carry you over the threshold, Mrs. Carrick.”
Mrs. Carrick. The sound almost made her melt. What she didn’t realize was that it had him melting, too.
“Oh, are you?” She grinned. “You’ve never carried me when we’ve gone on other vacations.”
He reached over and tugged at her sweatshirt, pulling her close. His fingers delicately lifted her chin toward him.
“That’s because this is the first time you’re my wife,” he crooned, sealing the sentiment with a sweet, tender kiss. “And I want to carry my wife over the threshold, not only because my mother would break my legs if she found out I didn’t.”
“Well, we can’t have that,” she laughed. “So, Mr. Carrick, if you’re going to carry me over the threshold, let’s do it! Our baby-to-be isn’t being too kind to my bladder right now.”
“That little brat,” he sighed, and without another word, he swept her into his arms, kicking the door open to the rustic suite open wide.
Tobias meticulously planned this trip, attending to every detail with painstaking care. Everything needed to be perfect. And while the photos had shown the stunning views—elegant rustic charm with a touch of romance—nothing could have prepared them for the actual beauty of the place, bathed in the amber glow of the late afternoon.
“This place is gorgeous!” Casey gasped, but her husband’s eyes were fixed on her when he replied.
“Sure is,” he said, as a blush came to her cheeks.
Casey rushed off to the bathroom while Tobias started a fire. When she returned, she joined him in front of the beautiful stone fireplace, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
“Leave it to you to find the perfect honeymoon spot,” she whispered. “Vermont is gorgeous! I can’t believe I’ve never been here before. I can’t wait to see more of it with you.”
“It is beautiful,” he agreed. “And just what we needed.”
“We could have gone to Bora Bora like you wanted,” she needled, scooting around to sit on his lap. “My obstetrician said it would have been fine.”
“That’s nice,” Tobias replied dismissively. “But there was no way my pregnant wife was going to be 10,000 miles away from her doctors. Not a long flight, not eating foods she’s unaccustomed to, not....”
“I know, I know, I know!” Casey laughed. “I’m just teasing, but I do feel bad that we couldn’t have your perfect honeymoon spot.”
“Hey, all I need for a perfect honeymoon is you,” he assured. “We’ll go to Bora Bora next year – you’ll see.”
“With a baby in tow?” She chuckled. “Not so romantic.”
“No way! The baby will be in Boston with grandma,” he laughed. “This way, we can work on a sibling.”
“OK, big guy,” she chortled. “Can you let me get through this pregnancy before we start talking about another?”
“I suppose,” he murmured, pulling her on top of him and joining their lips in a long, sensual kiss. When he opened his eyes, he gently brushed her blonde locks from her face, letting the fire’s glow illuminate every feature he cherished. “This has been the best day of my life,” he said with a smile. “I’m the luckiest man alive.”
“Mmm,” Casey beamed, nuzzling close. “This has been the perfect day, but you know what?”
“What?”
“Being here, alone with you, this is undoubtedly my favorite part.”
A gentle rumble vibrated in his chest, and his strong arms pulled her close. “You know what, that’s the best part for me, too.”
Casey playfully untangled herself from her new husband and tossed herself onto their plush, feather-topped bed, and purred, “Should I change into lingerie, Mr. Carrick, or would just getting naked suffice?”
Tobias flew over, cradling her in his arms as he gently lay at her side. “You’re sure it’s been a long day, and....”
“Tobias!” She scolded. “You know darn well it’s all right for us to do this, and if you think I’m not consummating this marriage...”
“Oh, I’m all for consummating the marriage,” he chuckled. “As long as you’re not too tired.”
Casey grinned mischievously and traced a finger along his jawline. “Too tired? Not a chance. In fact, I’ve been looking forward to this moment all day.”
Tobias smiled and kissed her gently. “Then let’s make this night as unforgettable as the day.”
With that, they lost themselves in each other, the fire casting a warm, flickering light over their intertwined bodies, sealing their love with passion and intimacy that would be the foundation of their life together. They were right; this was a perfect day.
Family road trip to Disney World, June 2032
Tobias’s face turned red when a slice of bologna hit this side of his head with a smacking sound. He saw Brooke’s eyes go wide in the rearview mirror, and Casey did her best to contain a laugh as she removed the offending piece of lunchmeat from her husband’s face.
“I’m sowee, Daddy!” his eight-year-old said with a sweet little voice. “It was an accident.”
“Brooke, sweetie,” he said, doing his best to maintain composure. “How does one accidentally throw a slice of bologna?”
“One doesn’t,” ten-year-old Samantha chimed in. “I think she should be punished.”
“Sammy!” Casey called out, silencing her eldest at once. She turned to face Brooke seated in the second row of their van. “How did that happen?”
“I just handed a piece to Kayla,” she replied. “She’s hungry. She threw it at Dad, but she didn’t know any better. She’s only three!”
“And what happened to our no eating in the car rule?” Tobias asked.
“Mom says that’s suspended on trips over three hours long,” Sammy informed, as Tobias gave his wife the side-eye.
“Well,” she reddened, “maybe we should stop for a snack. It is getting late, after all.”
“Mmm-hmmm...” her husband hummed in sarcastic agreement.
“That’s a good idea!” Brooke stated. “Because Kayla has to pee!”
“Oh yeah," Casey laughed. "And how do you know that?”
“Because I just peed!” Kayla giggled.
Casey placed a reassuring hand on Tobias’s knee. “There's a service area three miles ahead...” she soothed.
“And not a mile too soon.” He replied, before playfully taunting his wife.
“Let’s drive to Disney, she said. It will be fun, she said. Why would we want to fly, she said.”
“Because the plane hurt Kayla’s ears last time, Daddy!” Brooke scolded.
“I know, Brookey,” Tobias smiled into the rearview mirror. “Daddy’s just teasing Mommy.”
Without removing her eyes from the book she had been engrossed in the whole trip, Samantha needed to add her two cents. “Grammy says you need to knock that off before Mommy gets sick of you.”
Casey barked out a laugh as a weary Tobias shook his head. “They need to spend less time with my mother,” he grumbled as they pulled into the service area.
Once the van was cleaned up and everyone was fed, Casey decided to put the girls into their pajamas for the rest of the trip. According to GPS, they’d be arriving at their hotel around midnight, and this way, they could usher them up to their beds, hopefully without waking them. Tobias suggested piling them all on a luggage cart as he and Casey finished their ice cream. She wasn't sure if he was joking, but she didn’t think it was a bad idea.
After fastening the girls into their seats, Tobias put on a soothing, lullaby playlist, and they were out like lights before they were five miles down the road.
“Are they all asleep?” he whispered.
Casey turned around to double-check. "Down for the count!” she smiled.
“Have I mentioned how happy I am that our suite has two bedrooms?” Tobias asked.
“Only a few dozen times,” Casey chuckled.
Tobias reached for Casey's hand and raised it to his lips, placing several tender kisses upon her knuckles. The tender moment solidifying a bond they had created long ago.
“I’m sorry if this was too much,” Casey sighed. “Maybe we should have just gone to the lake...”
“Hey, hey...” he interrupted. “Look, they're our little monsters. We know they're a handful, but I’m just teasing you. This is going to be a great trip and we're going to have these memories for a lifetime. Don’t worry about it one bit.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “Because in the eleven years since you've met me, I certainly turned your happy bachelor life upside down.”
Tobias turned to her without an ounce of amusement on his face. “I hope that you're joking. The last eleven years of my life make the thirty-seven that preceded it seem like nothing at all. You and the girls are everything to me, baby. You are my life.”
“I know,” she grinned. “But I always imagined this life to a degree... the best parts and the chaotic parts, but you didn’t.”
Tobias pulled over to the side of the rural road, his hand on his wife’s cheek as soon as he put the van in park.
“Shut up,” he smirked, leaning over for a kiss.
Casey’s brow creased when he opened the door and stepped outside.
“Babe, what are you doing?” she whispered, but by the time she finished her question, he was already opening her door.
“Step outside, Mrs. Carrick,” he beamed.
Without letting go of her hand, he placed his phone on the hood of the van and fumbled to find a song. As the first notes played, Casey's shoulders relaxed. She would recognize their wedding song anywhere.
“All of Me?” she smiled, happy tears rising to her eyes.
“May I have this dance, beautiful?" He asked, looping his arm around her waist. "I promised you I’d sneak a little romance into each day for the rest of our lives, and I had no plans on stopping today.”
Casey nuzzled her head into his shoulder, a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"God, I love you."
"I love you, too," he replied, softly kissing the top of her head.
The world stood still as the two of them swayed together under the stars. Patients, deadlines, carpools, bickering, playdates, homework... they all melted away as they were transported to a world where the only thing that existed was the two of them and their love for one another.
When the song ended, Casey pulled back and looked into her husband's eyes. "How did I ever get this lucky?"
"You?" He asked with surprise. "I’m the lucky one here, sweetheart. I get to spend the week with four beautiful ladies that I love with all my heart."
"Well," she said, tenderly caressing his cheek. "Those four ladies love you, too. So, you're sure you're not upset over all the chaos today?"
"Upset?" he shrugged. "No way. Chaos and all, today was a perfect day."
Stowe, Vermont - November 2057
They held hands as they walked through the quiet forest. Tourist season was over, and it felt like they had the mountains to themselves, just like it had so many years ago. Casey took a deep breath, her face lighting up as the scent of pine and fresh mountain air filled her lungs, and Tobias couldn’t help but smile. It was their 35th anniversary, and they had returned to Vermont, the place where their journey began long ago.
Tobias glanced at Casey; the silver streaks in her hair that she fought so hard to hide shimmered in the light. She never understood that he meant it when he said every grey hair and wrinkle only made her more beautiful to him. At that moment, his heart was filled with joy.
“Can you believe it’s been 35 years?” he asked, his voice full of awe.
“It’s hard to believe,” Casey grinned. “It seems like only yesterday we were here, newlyweds with all our lives ahead of us. Now, our babies have babies, and you and me....”
“We’re every bit as in love as we were back then,” he cooed. “We’ve had quite a life, haven’t we?”
Casey nodded as her mind drifted to the life and memories they had created. Their three little girls had grown into strong, beautiful women, and they were so proud of each one. Along the way, they faced challenges they could never have imagined and celebrated joys they would have believed were too great for this world. Throughout it all, their very best friend was always at their side, supporting each other through thick and thin.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” she whispered. “You’ve been the cornerstone of my life, Tobias.”
He took her hand and led her to a small wooden bench, where they watched the sun begin to set in comfortable silence. The sky put on a show for free, a canvas of pink and orange that only nature could create. The years had brought changes, but their love was a constant on which they could always rely. Thirty-five years before, they couldn't imagine their love growing deeper, yet it did with each passing year.
Tobias reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, worn photo from their wedding day. “Look at us,” he beamed, showing it to Casey. “We were so young and full of dreams.”
“Well, I was young,” Casey teased, running her finger over the photo. “You already had a leg up on me, old man.” But then she became more serious. “And look at us now,” she said, a tear rolling down her cheek. “We’ve lived every dream we had and created new ones along the way.”
Tobias took her face in his hands, their eyes damp as they faced one another. “Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like if I had never met you, and I shudder. You showed me a life... a love... I could have never imagined before."
“And you’ve done the same for me,” she replied, her voice cracking with emotion.
“We should head back,” she said after a long embrace. “It’s beginning to get dark.”
As they stood to leave, Tobias wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and they began to walk to the Inn. “Here’s to many more years,” he said, planting a tender kiss on Casey’s forehead.
“To many more,” she smiled, turning to him with questioning eyes when he chuckled. “What is it?” she asked.
“Look at us! Still creating perfect days after all these years.”
@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics
Tagging others separately
